TWI236239B - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote controller, comprising: a touch pad having handwriting area to generate input signal according to users' operations; a driver for driving the touch pad; and a micro-controller for making the signal generator generate a controlling signal to the controlled device in response to the input signal for operations of commands, file designation or searching on the controlled device. One or more area can be defined on the touch pad or many icons can be formed on the touch pad to provide a various input function like key mode, mouse mode, scroll mode or figure mode.

Description

1236239 V. Description of the invention (1) [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention relates to a remote controller, and more particularly to a remote controller with a touch panel. [Previous technology] The remote control has been widely used in various devices in daily life, such as televisions, video recorders, stereos, air conditioners, motor vehicles, electric shutters, lamps, projectors, and so on. Although the remote control has the advantages of simple operation and low cost, it can only be operated by buttons, which greatly limits the operation function and makes many applications impossible. In the past, attempts have been made to improve the remote control in order to expand its functions, such as clicking on the program list on the TV. However, the tedious key operation makes users unwilling to use it, and the user can only select from a fixed menu, not arbitrary Enter text or symbols, so it has low controllability and poor flexibility. It will inevitably be unable to meet its application for future home entertainment audiovisual products. The touchpad is a well-known and low-cost device. In the past, it was mainly used to provide a mouse function on a notebook computer. Although the trackpad has many advantages, its applications have been confined to computers and cannot be used to the extreme. Therefore, the present invention proposes a new remote controller from a different point of view, which greatly expands the functions of the remote controller on the premise that it is lightweight and low in cost. [Summary of the Invention]

Page 5 1236239 V. Description of the invention (2) One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a remote controller with a touch panel. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller with more flexible operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller capable of handwriting input. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote controller with enhanced functions. According to the present invention, a remote controller includes a touchpad with a handwriting input area to generate an input signal in response to a user operation, a driver that drives the touchpad, and a microcontroller to cause the signal generator to generate a remote control signal to the receiver in response to the input signal. Control device to perform operations such as giving instructions, naming files, or searching on the controlled device. Varyingly, there are many key patterns on the touchpad to provide key input functions. The many key patterns include a mode switching key pattern, or a physical mode switching key that is not on the touch panel, and is used to switch the touch panel to a key mode or a handwriting input mode. Variationally, the remote control further includes a recognition module to recognize the track or hand index on the handwriting input area, thereby operating the controlled device. Variantly, the touchpad is further planned as one or more regions to provide different input functions such as mouse mode, scroll mode or graphic mode. The touchpad includes a mode switch development button pattern, or a physical mode switch development button that is not on the touchpad to switch the touchpad between these modes.

Page 6 1236239 V. Description of the invention (3)

[Embodiment J The first diagram is an example of a remote controller according to the present invention. The controller 10 and the touchpad 12 may use a capacitive touch or a resistive touchpad, and the driver 14 is between the touch Between the board 2 and the microcontroller, the touchpad 12 generates an input signal u in response to the user's operation, and the driver 14 provides address information or data to the microcontroller 10 and the microcontroller 1 〇 in response to the input signal 16 The signal generator 2 2 controls; causes the signal generator 22 to generate a remote control signal = "integrated together: the driver 14 can also be used with a microcontroller (such as a capacitive or electrical touchpad 12 type of electrical signal): 'ί Γ and the touchpad are produced according to the user's operation. = Touch if the user's position 12 on the touchpad 12 is capacitive touch; the method of plate movement is also different, for example, when the touchpad 12 is charged and discharged . For example, "the actuator 14 needs to provide a current source to the touchpad actuator 14 to provide electricity 仏 = the touchpad 12 is a resistive touchpad, then drive the detailed composition and Ϊ Z control board 12 As for the touchpad and its driver, the driver is not described in detail. It is well known to those skilled in this technology. It must be able to drive the touchpad 12 at least. To the address data;] "electrical signals for subsequent processing (such as conversion, writing, recognition, recognition, etc.) to provide different functions (such as hand-recognized delta input, Cursors, rollers Page 7 1236239 5. In the description of the invention (4) 'These follow-up processing for the output of the touchpad 12 can be all performed in the microcontroller 10 or the driver 14, or a part of the microcontroller 10, the other part is performed in the driver 14. The signal generator 2 2 can use infrared (IR) generator or radio frequency (RF) signal generator to send signals in a format compatible with the controlled device for remote control. The remote control may further include a display 2 4 connected to a microcontroller 1 via a control bus 26 and a data bus 27. When the user operates on the touchpad 12, the display 24 may be used to display the user input Content, or used to display a reminder message to the user. The display 24 can use, for example, a liquid crystal display (Liquid Crystal Display; LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (Organic Light-Emmitting Diode; OLED) k display Or a display device such as an Electro-Luminescent (EL) film display. In different embodiments, the display 24 can be integrated on the remote control or located on the side of the controlled device, taking home entertainment appliances as an example. The display 24 can be a sound panel controlled by a remote control, a television, or a display screen of a video recorder or a video player. The touchpad 12 has a number of key patterns 28, each of which simulates a physical key, so touch The function of the board 1 2 is like a keypad. The key pattern 28 may be directly printed or attached to the touch panel 12 with a sticker, and a fluorescent pattern may be used to help provide an indication function when used in a dark environment. These key patterns 28 on the touchpad 12 can be used to replace the physical buttons of the conventional remote control. Since the touchpad 12 is very large; 4 'can be as small as about 1 cm', so the remote control can also be reduced in thickness and touch The control board 12 is just a board, so the panel of the remote control

1236239

V. Description of the invention (5) It is not necessary to open a plurality of holes to match the size of the button, so the mechanism and assembly of the remote control are simplified. These key patterns 28 on the touchpad 12 can also be used to provide new functions, such as defining new function keys, hot keys integrating multiple commands, or shortcut keys for customizing specific options. In different embodiments, in addition to simulating the keyboard, the touchpad 12 can also be switched to other modes, such as a handwriting input mode, a graphic mode, a mouse mode, a scroll mode, etc., to perform other functions. Regarding the switching between different operation modes, a mode switch can be provided on the remote control. This mode switch can be a physical button or a defined button pattern 28 on the touchpad 12. In the key mode, the function of the touchpad 12 is defined as a keyboard. As shown in the first figure, a number of key patterns 28 are provided for operation. In the handwriting input mode, part or all of the area on the touchpad 12 becomes a handwriting input area. The second figure is an example. Most of the area occupied by the original key patterns 28 under the touchpad 12 is transformed into a handwriting input area 30. The upper part is 4 key patterns. The mode switch opens key patterns 32 and menu key patterns 34. , Clear button pattern 36, and enter button pattern 38. In the handwriting input mode, text, numbers, symbols or patterns written from the handwriting input area 30 are recognized by the recognition module built in the microcontroller 10 and displayed on the display 24. This handwriting recognition module can Integrated in driver 丨 4 or microcontroller i 〇: Touch out. Touch the mode selector switch 32; use the preset option list or information to clear: ”^ or correct handwriting input or on the display 24: key is used to clear the neck 97, numbers, symbols or pictures

1236239

V. Description of the invention (6) Samples ′ are sent to the microcontroller 10, 24 in the handwriting input area, and can be taken out after the user finishes the button pattern 38. The field 30 writes text and recognizes it through the identification module. The result of the previous input into a single word or string is displayed simultaneously on the display after the word, symbol or pattern is entered. Press the turn-in signal generator 2 2 and send it as : As shown in the figure, 'the remote control 40 including the device of the first figure is used to drop', in addition to the physical keys, the touchpad 12 and the handwriting input function of the remote control 40. In operation, the input from the touchpad 12 == is displayed on the display 24. The controlled device 42 may be a digital device, such as a video player, a digital video disc player, a stereo, a theater, or a digital information device such as a multimedia computer, a projector, and a set-top box (STB). , Or home appliances, such as televisions, air conditioners. In addition to general operations, the remote control 40 has more operation functions for the controlled device 42, such as digital video discs, on-board digital television (HDTV), movies on demand (Movie-0n — Demand; on-demand video ( Video-On-Demand (VOD), Multimedia-On-Demand (MOD) to search for programs or tracks, but unlike conventional devices, users can directly enter the Keywords, and then execute the search command. Naming slot cases is another function that cannot be achieved by conventional devices. After the user selects the "$" case, enter a new file name on the touchpad 12 to create New ^ file or change the name of the old file. These operation functions make it easier for the user to operate the controlled device 42 'and also make the remote control 40 more powerful, such as creating the user's own program list, recording for recording Show

1236239 V. Description of Invention (7) " or track arbitrarily named. The fourth figure provides another embodiment of the remote controller of the present invention, which includes a microcontroller 10, a driver 14 and a signal generator 22. In this embodiment, the touchpad 52 may not have the function of a key, but a function of the key is provided by a physical keyboard 54, and the touchpad 52 may provide functions other than the key function described above. The keyboard 5 4 is connected via the bus 5 0 ^ controller 1 0 ′ generates an input signal to the microcontroller 10 according to a user operation. In this embodiment, two identification modules 56 and 58 are connected. The identification modules 5 to 6 are used to determine the index of the hand touched on the touchpad 52. For example, as shown in the fifth figure, the signal waveform 60 sensed from the touchpad 52 has three peaks 62 and two valleys 64. Separately, it means that three fingers touch the touchpad 52 at the same time, and different hand indices represent different instructions, so the user's operation can be simplified. The recognition module 58 is used for recognizing the track. For example, as shown in the sixth figure, the track 6 6 written on the touchpad 5 2 is recognized by the recognition module 5 8 to determine whether it is a character, a number, a symbol, or pattern. In different embodiments, the identification modules 56 and 58 can also be integrated into a driver or a microcontroller. As shown in the seventh figure, the remote control 68 including the device of the fourth figure is used to operate the text control device 70. The remote control 68 is not equipped with a display, but uses the display 72 of the controlled device 70 to provide a display function, such as the aforementioned The text, numerals, symbols or patterns written in the sixth figure are displayed on the display 72. The eighth figure provides further functions. The upward gesture 74, downward gesture 76, leftward gesture 78, and rightward gesture 80 written on the touchpad 52 respectively represent four different commands, for example, upward gesture 74 And gesture 76 indicates scrolling up and down the menu, and gesture 78 indicates recovery

Page 11 V. Description of the invention (8) (undo), rightward gesture 80 means enter. In the middle, the instructions represented by the left and right gestures can be forward actions in nt = backup (such as a video player, DVD player, etc.), and backward actions. The operation provided by the touch panel 52 makes the operation of the controlled device 70 easier. b Λ, standby: m2 touchpad can provide more operation modes to increase the function of "remote". As shown in the ninth figure, the touchpad 52 can be set to-or a region, by mode The switch can be switched to mouse mode and scroll mode, and the control panel w 52 is switched to mouse mode. ~ When the touchpad team ~ I use the cursor area and horizontal and vertical scroll area to make cursors. Straight = horizontal or vertical direction of the mouse, the function of scrolling the window, its function is similar to the axis of the lcrosoft Offlce word processing software. Varyingly, the mouse mold puts down the t bit and the direction of the roll. When touch; === change the menu before or after the cursor. J: Up or down, or the downward scrolling area is different; Formula: = area and mouse mode straight or horizontal operation, straight = Material temple, the user's vertical movement in this scrolling area, or moving on the menu: the vertical and horizontal scrolling plate 52 in g2f switches to graphics mode, a ^ f ^^ moves early. When touch Shape input, the user can open the figure as the graphic input area, and provide figure 1236239 V. Description of the invention (9) Graphic editing can be performed and then sent to the controlled device. There is a significant difference between the graphic mode and the handwriting input mode. In the handwriting input mode, the user's input stops for a response time. After that, the handwriting input recognition module in the remote control actively recognizes the user's input. In the graphic mode, it relies on the user to give instructions to indicate that the graphics input is complete. The above reaction time can be determined by the user In the same way, the touchpad 12 can also be planned to provide these operation modes. In different embodiments, in order to increase the tactile feel during use, protrusions can be formed in the area of the button pattern on the touchpad. The proper compensation mechanism does not affect the operation of handwriting input or other operation modes. The tenth figure illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the touchpad 12 of the first figure, and the keys on the touchpad 12 The pattern 28 has protrusions 82 to increase the tactile sensation during use. Similarly, the surface of the touch pad 52 can also be formed with protrusions, wavy curved surfaces or rough surfaces. The above description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is for the purpose of clarification, and it is not intended to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, based on the above teaching or learning from the embodiments of the present invention Modifications or changes are possible. The embodiments are selected and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention and allow those skilled in the art to use the present invention in practical applications in various embodiments. The technical ideas of the present invention are intended to be The scope of patent application and its equality shall be determined.

Page 1236239 Brief description of the drawings For those skilled in the art, the present invention will be more clearly understood from the detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings made below, and the above and other objects and advantages will become It is more obvious, in which: the first diagram is a remote control embodiment according to the present invention; the second diagram is a schematic diagram of the remote controller switching the operation mode of the touchpad in the first diagram; the third diagram is the operation using the remote controller in the first diagram A schematic diagram of a controlled device. The fourth diagram is a schematic diagram of another remote control embodiment according to the present invention. The fifth diagram is a schematic diagram of the remote controller of FIG. 4 judging the index of the hand touching the touchpad. The sixth diagram is the fourth diagram. Schematic diagram of the remote control for recognizing handwriting input, the seventh diagram is a schematic diagram of using the remote controller of the fourth diagram to operate the controlled device, and the eighth diagram is a schematic diagram of the gesture control operation of the remote controller of the fourth diagram; Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of switching the touchpad to other operation modes; and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the touchpad. Drawing No. 10 Microcontroller 12 Touchpad 14 Driver

1236239 on page 14 Brief description of the diagram 16 Input signal 20 Address information or data signal 22 Signal generator 24 Display 26 Control bus 27 Data bus 28 Key pattern 30 Handwriting input area 32 Mode switching open key pattern 34 Menu key pattern 36 Clear button pattern 38 Input button pattern 40 Remote control 42 Controlled device 50 Bus 52 Touchpad 54 Keyboard 56 Identification module 58 Identification module 60 Signal waveforms sensed 62 Wave peaks 64 Wave valleys 66 Writing marks 68 Remote control

Page 15 1236239 Simple illustration of the diagram 70 Controlled device 72 Display 74 Up gesture 76 Down gesture 78 Left gesture 80 Right gesture 82 Raised ΙΗΗΙ page 16

Claims (1)

1236239 6. Scope of patent application 1 · A remote control, comprising: a touchpad with a number of key patterns and handwriting input areas to generate input signals in response to user operations; a driver to drive the touchpad; a signal A generator; and a microcontroller to cause the signal generator to generate a remote control signal to the controlled device in response to the input signal. 2 · The remote control according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the signal generator is selected from the group consisting of an infrared generator and a radio frequency generator. 3 · If the remote control for item 1 of the patent application scope, it also includes a mode switch for switching the touchpad to the key mode or handwriting input mode. 4 · The remote control according to item 3 of the patent application, wherein the mode switch further includes providing the touchpad to a mouse mode, a scroll mode, or a graphic mode. 5 · The remote control according to item 3 of the patent application, wherein the mode switching relationship is provided by one of the many key patterns. 6. As for the remote control of item 1 of the patent application, wherein the many key patterns and handwriting input areas overlap. 7. For the remote control according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the touchpad is selected from the group consisting of a capacitive touchpad and a resistive touchpad. 8. For the remote control according to item 1 of the patent application, wherein the plurality of button patterns are fluorescent patterns. 9. For the remote control according to item 1 of the patent application, wherein the plurality of key patterns are printed on the touch panel. Page 17 1236239 6. Scope of patent application 1 0. If the remote control of item 1 of the patent application scope includes a display, the microcontroller is connected to display information in response to the input signal. 1 1. The remote control according to item 9 of the scope of patent application, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode display, and a cold light film display. 1 2. The remote control according to item 1 of the patent application, wherein the touchpad has protrusions on the plurality of key patterns to increase the touch feeling. 1 3. The remote control according to item 1 of the patent application scope further includes a recognition module to recognize the track on the handwriting input area. 14. The remote control according to item 1 of the patent application scope further includes a recognition module to recognize the number of fingers touching the handwriting input area. 1 5. The remote control according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the input signal is a menu operation on the controlled device. 16. The remote control according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the input signal is a file search on the controlled device. 17. The remote control according to item 1 of the patent application, wherein the input signal is named on the controlled device. 1 8. The remote control according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the controlled device is selected from the group consisting of digital audio and video equipment, digital information equipment and home appliances. 19 9. The remote controller according to item 1 of the patent application, wherein the driver is integrated with the microcontroller. 20. —A remote control including: a plurality of keys to generate a first input signal in response to a user operation Page 18 1236239 VI. Patent application scope number; Touchpad with handwriting input area to generate a second input signal in response to handwriting input; Driver to drive the touchpad; Signal generator; and micro-control The signal generator generates the remote control signal to the controlled device according to the first or second input signal. 2 1. The remote control according to item 20 of the patent application scope, wherein the signal generator is selected from the group consisting of an infrared generator and a radio frequency signal generator. 2 2. The remote controller according to item 20 of the patent application scope, wherein the touchpad is selected from the group consisting of a capacitive touchpad and a resistive touchpad. 2 3. If the remote control of item 20 of the patent application scope further includes a display, the microcontroller is connected to display information in response to the second input signal. 2 4. The remote control according to item 23 of the patent application scope, wherein the display is selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode display and a cold light film display. 25. The remote control according to item 20 of the patent application scope, further comprising a mode switch to provide the touchpad to switch to a mouse mode, a scroll mode, or a graphic mode. 26. If the remote control for item 25 of the patent application scope, the mode switching on the touchpad is located on the touch panel 27. For the remote control for item 20 of the patent application scope, it also includes an identification module to identify the A handwriting on the handwriting input area. Page 19 1236239 6. Scope of patent application 28. The remote control of item 20 of the patent application scope further includes a recognition module to identify the number of fingers touching the handwriting input area. 29. The remote control according to item 20 of the patent application, wherein the second input signal is a menu operation on the controlled device. 30. The remote control as claimed in claim 20, wherein the second input signal is used for file search on the controlled device. 31. The remote control according to item 20 of the patent application, wherein the second input signal is named on the controlled device. 32. The remote control according to item 20 of the scope of patent application, wherein the controlled device is selected from the group consisting of digital audio and video equipment, digital information equipment, and home appliances. 33. The remote control according to claim 20, wherein the driver is integrated with the microcontroller. Page 20